Contrasting BMI and Height z-Score Trajectories in Children With New-Onset T1DM: A Case-Control Study Across Latin American Centers

Background: Children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) may experience some growth delay. Objective: To compare growth trajectories assessed by z-height and z-BMI over a three-year follow-up period between children with new-onset T1DM and a control group without T1DM across multiple Latin American centers. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted over three years (2021-2024) in children with T1DM onset and their controls from ten Latin American centers, collecting data on age, sex, and anthropometric measures. A mixed-effects model was used to analyze z-height and z-BMI over three years. Results: A total of 534 participants were included, comprising 245 children with T1DM (51.4% female; mean age, 8.8 years) and 289 controls (45.7% female; mean age, 8.1 years). The mean z-BMI in children with T1DM compared to controls was at years 0 (−0.12 vs. 0.54), 1 (0.36 vs. 0.63), 2 (0.32 vs. 0.55), and 3 (0.34 vs. 0.47). Children with T1DM had a significantly lower z-BMI than controls, with mean differences of -0.71, -0.33, and -0.28 in years 0, 1, and 2, respectively. However, by year 3, the mean difference (-0.18) was no longer significant. Z-Height in children with T1DM vs. controls was at years 1 (−0.08 vs. −0.09), 2 (−0.24 vs. −0.12), and 3 (−0.35 vs. −0.12). Z-Height remained stable in controls but declined in the T1DM group, reaching a mean difference of −0.25 (p<0.01) by year 3. These findings highlight the need to improve early diagnosis and access to diabetes technologies in Latin America. Conclusions: This study suggested that despite treatment and equalization of z-BMI, children with T1DM in Latin America experience some growth delay.